The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1917. THE INFLUENCE OF LITTLE RUSSIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1917. THE INFLUENCE OF LITTLE RUSSIA.

Of late, much attention has been drawn to the action of the Ukrainians, especially in connection with their joining forcps with tlieCossacka against the Bolsheviks, and in relation to the report of the Ulurainiaas having taken over the Romanian and south western front. Ukraine is known as "little Busai*," and comprises the governments of Kiev, Poltava, Kharkov and Tcjiernigov in the south west of Russia in the vicipity of Bessarabia and the borders of Galicia and Roumaaia, the Don Cossack provinee being on the eastern Bide of Kharkov. In order to realise the meaning of a coalition of Ukrainians and Cossaeks it is necessary to understand the intense individualism of the Little Russians, as well as the evolution of the Cossacks. The latter actually came into being as ap organisation in Ukrainia—hardy men of a nomadic disposition, to whom fighting coqies far more agreeable than industrial pursuits. They have spread to many parts of Russia, and have been organised as a fighting force under the strictest conditions of servitt. The population in the eleven Cossack territories amounts to about eleven millions of both sexes. Virtually the Cossaqks ure what we should regard in New Zealand 4s military settlers having special .privileges and large endowments of lands. The Ukrainians number about thirty million people, so that it will be seen what a vast force could be produced by a coalition of these two great races. At heart both the Ukraini&iis and Cossacks are democrats; there is a bond of sympathy between them--natural and historical—and by standing shoulder to shoulder in the present crisis they could materially alter the outlook (•for Russia as a whole. The Cossacks pre the only body to-day in Russift having a serviceable military organisation and aeknpwledging a leadership of reliability. It is quite conceivable that these two neighboring peoples should unite against the forces of such spoliators as j Lenin and Trotsky, who may rightly be regarded as nation wreckers instead of builders. It is beyond all possibility .that either the Ukrainians or Cossacks could submit to the domination of the Russian extremists. In view ot the probable failure. of the forlorn hope peace negotiations, Russia sorely needs a strong and determined military party that will rid the country of the German menace and then settle down to internal reorganisation. It is conceiv'able, however, that Cossacks and Littlo< Russians 'may. foawo some reluaUwe ,}n prosecuting a war against Germany 'with the prospeet of being so weakened that when the task is over they may be at the mercy of the very same extremists against whom they are at enmity today. The present problem is by no means an easy one to solve. Having had an experience of autonomy the Ukrainians naturally determined on again governing themselves and took steps in that direction, thus arousing the animosity of the Bolsheviks, while the Cos•sacks have a well-founded antipathy to the communistic practices of the extremists, Prom the Allies point of view the conflict between these opposing forces is a move in the- right direction, provided the Bolsheviks do not invoke the aid of the Germans to meet the emergency, for by so doing*they will give Germany a hold on Russia that would be detrimental to the Allies' cause. It is to be hoped that the report of the Uk-rainian-Cossack-Roumaniwi coalition on the Roumanian front is welWotuided, ior it means a ray of hope as regards the improvement of the situation both for tiu Allie* *a4 for Beumania. J| Jajtjtn

could now see Tier waj to help this latest combination with men and munitions the position would be very materially improved. The important conference held in Japan would seem to indicate that she js facing the situation arising If the democratising of Russia could. 1 be moulded and solidified by i'jc inule out of the possibility of a separate peace. Russians and the Cossacks there might bo some hope of laying a successful foundation that would grow into a fitting structure. The pressing need, however, is to put an end to the chaqtio state of affairs caused by the extremists? and to prevent German manipulation of Russia's destiny. It will thus be s|en how largely the course of events ■ depends on the action of the Ukrainians and the Cossacks, and there is little doubt that if they are successful in Crushing the extremists the first step will have been taken towards rehabilitating Russia as a force to be reckoned with in the war.